Lock with linearly operating latch

A lock, comprising:

• a lock mechanism having a first member and a second member, the first member and the second member each being slidably mounted to a housing of the lock, wherein the first member is capable of movement between a first position and a second position and the second member is capable of movement between a first position and a second position and wherein movement of the first member from the first position to the second position causes the second member to move from the first position to the second position;
• a bolt configured for movement between a blocking position and an unblocking position, the bolt preventing the second member from moving from the second position to the first position when the bolt is in the blocking position;
• and
• a locking member slidably mounted to the housing for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the locking member prevents the bolt from moving to the blocking position from the unblocking position when the locking member is in the first position, wherein the first member and the locking member move in a first plane as they move between their respective first position and second position and wherein the second member moves in a second plane as the second member moves between its first position and second position, wherein the first plane is different from the second plane, and wherein horizontal movement of the first member in the first plane will cause vertical movement of the second member in the second plane.

A lock, comprising:

• a lock mechanism having a first member and a second member, the first member and the second member each being slidably mounted to a housing of the lock, wherein the first member is capable of movement between a first position and a second position and the second member is capable of movement between a first position and a second position and wherein movement of the first member from the first position to the second position causes the second member to move from the first position to the second position;
• a bolt configured for movement between a blocking position and an unblocking position, the bolt preventing the second member from moving from the second position to the first position when the bolt is in the blocking position;
• and
• a locking member slidably mounted to the housing for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the locking member prevents the bolt from moving to the blocking position from the unblocking position when the locking member is in the first position, wherein the first member and the locking member move in a first plane as they move between their respective first position and second position and wherein the second member moves in a second plane as the second member moves between its first position and second position, wherein the second member moves vertically in the second plane as the first member moves horizontally in the first plane.

A method of locking and unlocking a lock, the method comprising:

• biasing a first member of a lock mechanism into a first position;
• coupling the first member to a second member of the lock mechanism, wherein linear movement of the first member in a first plane from the first position to a second position will cause linear movement of the second member in a second plane from a first position to a second position wherein horizontal movement of the first member in the first plane will cause vertical movement of the second member in the second plane;
• and
• preventing the second member to move from the second position to the first position by moving a feature of a bolt into a blocking position with respect to a surface of the second member when the second member is in the second position.

A method of locking and unlocking a lock, the method comprising:

• biasing a first member of a lock mechanism into a first position;
• coupling the first member to a second member of the lock mechanism, wherein movement of the first member from the first position to a second position will cause the second member to move from a first position to a second position wherein a portion of the second mechanism will be extended from a housing of the lock;
• and
• preventing the second member to move from the second position to the first position by moving a feature of a bolt into a blocking position with respect to a surface of the second member when the second member is in the second position, wherein the locking member is spring biased into the first position and movement of the first member and the locking member from their respective first positions to their respective second positions occurs in parallel planes and movement of the second member to the second position occurs in a plane that is perpendicular to a plane of movement of the first member and wherein the first member further comprises a protrusion configured to be slidably received within an opening of the second member.