US3933015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Armored cable-type lock assembly with special means for rendering it tamper-proof
Assignee: JJ TOUREK Manufacturing Co AN ILL CORP
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Filing: 1974-06-20
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Granted: 1976-01-20
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Expires: 1994-06-20
Abstract
Abstract An armored cable-type lock assembly embodying an armored cable consisting of a length of stranded steel cable on which there are threaded in bead-like fashion armor pieces in the form of alternately arranged ball members and socket members. A fixed terminal lock housing at the proximate end of the cable is provided with a transverse bore through which the distal end of the cable may be passed so that the housing functions as an overlap slip joint and causes the cable to form a closed retaining loop when the distal end of the cable is in the bore, the size of such loop being regulated by pulling or pushing the cable through the housing. A key-operated cylinder lock which is associated with the housing has a locking bolt which, when projected into its locked position, engages the opposed ends of a pair of adjacent socket members and forces them downwardly against the bottom wall of the bore, the latter being recessed in wide angle V-fashion so that the captured or bolt-engaged part of the armored cable develops a kink within the bore and is thus locked against endwise sliding through the bore. A fitting at the distal end of the armored cable is in the form of a thimble having a recessed inner end that mates with a half-ball which is integral with a special terminal armor piece. Both terminal arrangements are such that the possibility of hacksaw or abrasive attempts to penetrate the armor is inhibited.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley C. Balicki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:27
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B67/00; E05B67/003; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/40; Y10T70/402; Y10T70/409; Y10T70/413; Y10T70/437; Y10T70/483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
345 words
An armored cable-type lock assembly comprising an elongated flexible stranded steel cable having a fixed end and a free end, a lock housing secured to said fixed end, an end member secured to said free end, a series of tubular sheathe-like armor sections threadedly received over said cable in bead-like fashion and forming with said stranded cable an armored cable assembly, said armored cable assembly including alternately arranged cylindrical tubular socket members and intervening ball members, each ball member, in combination with the adjacent tubular socket members, establishing a ball and socket joint between such adjacent socket members to allow limited flexing of the armored cable accompanied by corresponding angular displacement between adjacent socket members, said lock housing being provided with a transverse bore therein and adapted slidingly to receive therethrough axially aligned adjacent cylindrical socket members on the free end region of the cable in order to produce a closed variable size loop, one side wall portion of the bore being formed with a shallow internal concave relief area which is V-shaped from end to end, and releasable key-actuated locking means mounted in the lock housing and including a locking bolt disposed opposite to the relief area, extending at right angles to the bore, and slidable between a projected position wherein it extends into said bore and engages the opposed end edges of a pair of adjacent socket members in the vicinity of a ball and socket joint and displaces said adjacent socket members angularly and presses such joint into said relief area, said locking bolt being provided with a tapered end surface to the end that it makes linear contact with the adjacent end regions of the housing-enclosed socket members when it is fully projected and thus binds and kinks the armored cable within the bore and relief area, and a retracted position wherein the thus kinked region of the armored cable is relieved so that the armored cable may be withdrawn from the confines of the bore, thus releasing the cable and its associated armor sections for sliding movement through the bore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
345 words
An armored cable-type lock assembly comprising an elongated flexible stranded steel cable having a fixed end and a free end, a lock housing secured to said fixed end, an end member secured to said free end, a series of tubular sheathe-like armor sections threadedly received over said cable in bead-like fashion and forming with said stranded cable an armored cable assembly, said armored cable assembly including alternately arranged cylindrical tubular socket members and intervening ball members, each ball member, in combination with the adjacent tubular socket members, establishing a ball and socket joint between such adjacent socket members to allow limited flexing of the armored cable accompanied by corresponding angular displacement between adjacent socket members, said lock housing being provided with a transverse bore therein and adapted slidingly to receive therethrough axially aligned adjacent cylindrical socket members on the free end region of the cable in order to produce a closed variable size loop, one side wall portion of the bore being formed with a shallow internal concave relief area which is V-shaped from end to end, and releasable key-actuated locking means mounted in the lock housing and including a locking bolt disposed opposite to the relief area, extending at right angles to the bore, and slidable between a projected position wherein it extends into said bore and engages the opposed end edges of a pair of adjacent socket members in the vicinity of a ball and socket joint and displaces said adjacent socket members angularly and presses such joint into said relief area, said locking bolt being provided with a tapered end surface to the end that it makes linear contact with the adjacent end regions of the housing-enclosed socket members when it is fully projected and thus binds and kinks the armored cable within the bore and relief area, and a retracted position wherein the thus kinked region of the armored cable is relieved so that the armored cable may be withdrawn from the confines of the bore, thus releasing the cable and its associated armor sections for sliding movement through the bore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
An armored cable-type lock assembly as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the transverse bore defines opposite end openings which are approximately circular and of the same diameter as that of the socket members, one side of the wall portion of the bore is semi-cylindrical throughout, and the other side of the wall portion of the bore slopes inwardly from said circular end openings, thus establishing said V-shaped relief area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An armored cable-type lock assembly as set forth in claim 2 and wherein said other side of the wall portion presents inwardly and sloping bottom portions which are semi-cylindrical in transverse cross section and have radii of curvature equal to the radius of the cylindrical socket members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
152 words
An armored cable-type lock assembly as set forth in claim 1 and wherein said lock housing is adapted in certain instances to extend substantially vertically and has a cylindrical socket formed in the lower end thereof, the wall of said socket being provided with an internal annular groove therearound, a cylindrical retaining collar is mounted on the fixed end of the cable and fits snugly in telescopic fashion within said socket, is provided with an external annular groove therearound in register with said internal annular groove, a snap ring seats within said grooves and serves permanently to retain the collar within the socket, the collar projects outwardly beyond the confines of the lock housing and is formed with an integral half-ball on its projecting end, and said half-ball cooperates with the adjacent socket member on the cable to establish a ball and socket joint in the immediate vicinity of the lock housing.
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) | 1979-01-19 | 1979-07-21 | 1980-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-19 | 1983-07-21 | 1984-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-19 | 1987-07-21 | 1988-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |