Lock mechanism

Claim 1

In association with a cooler cabinet that includes a wall having one exposed face and one concealed face; and a lid that includes two spaced walls, each of which has one exposed face and one concealed face, the improvement comprising: a lock bolt mechanism secured to the lid, and a keeper mechanism secured to the cabinet; said keeper mechanism comprising a plate affixed to said cabinet wall so that it does not project beyond the exposed face of the wall; said plate having a slot therethrough; said lock bolt mechanism comprising a tubular housing that includes two telescopically connected tubes extending into the space between the lid walls; said tubes having external flanges thereon exerting clamp forces on the exposed faces of the lid walls so that the tubular housing extends entirely through the lid; a lock bolt arranged for axial and rotary motion within the tubular housing; guide means within the housing constraining the bolt against rotary motion except when said bolt is in a predetermined position of axial adjustment; a hook carried on the bolt in registry with the slot in the keeper plate; spring means biasing the lock bolt away from the keeper plate; and a manually-operated key engageable with the bolt to move same axially a predetermined distance to the aforementioned predetermined position, after which the key can be rotated to turn the bolt and associated hook; said hook being oriented on said bolt so that when the key is turned the hook will lockably engage a concealed face of the keeper plate.